ID :
27321
Wed, 10/29/2008 - 18:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/27321
The shortlink copeid
GOLKAR RESPECTS SULTAN'S INTENTION TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT
Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Golkar Party chairman Jusuf Kalla who is concurrently vice president opined that Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X's readiness to run in next year's presidential election should be respected because it was something normal in a democratic country.
"Everybody in Indonesia has rights, including the right to vote and to seek election to political office, and therefore we have to respect Sri Sultan's readiness to run for president," Jusuf Kalla said.
He made the statement after receiving Federation of Indonesian Batik Cooperatives (GKBI) management officials at his office here on Wednesday.
Motivated by his desire to serve the Motherland and to change the life of the Indonesian people, the Yogyakarta governor on Tuesday announced his intention to compete in the presidential race in 2009.
"By requesting guidance from the One God and based on sincere motivation to serve the Motherland, I hereby declare my readiness to run for president in 2009," Sri Sultan said at a mass rally near his palace in Yogyakarta.
He said there had so far been no fundamental change that had made the nation to progress and to be well-off with an accountable government.
"So long as the situation in the country remains like it is now this nation will not be competitive to face future challenges. Therefore, we must change the strategy and if the people want change let us make it together," he said before thousands of people attending the rally.
The Sultan then said, "What is the use of asking Hamengkubuwono to be president if the people do not want change. I want to be an agent of change."
He said winning or losing in next year's election would be no problem to him.
"At the request of the people of Yogyakarta I am willing to run for president. It is not a problem for me to lose and there is no need to feel degraded or ashamed if I lose. My logic is not like that but on the contrary I may not show off if I win because everything is a mere mandate," he said.
"Everybody in Indonesia has rights, including the right to vote and to seek election to political office, and therefore we have to respect Sri Sultan's readiness to run for president," Jusuf Kalla said.
He made the statement after receiving Federation of Indonesian Batik Cooperatives (GKBI) management officials at his office here on Wednesday.
Motivated by his desire to serve the Motherland and to change the life of the Indonesian people, the Yogyakarta governor on Tuesday announced his intention to compete in the presidential race in 2009.
"By requesting guidance from the One God and based on sincere motivation to serve the Motherland, I hereby declare my readiness to run for president in 2009," Sri Sultan said at a mass rally near his palace in Yogyakarta.
He said there had so far been no fundamental change that had made the nation to progress and to be well-off with an accountable government.
"So long as the situation in the country remains like it is now this nation will not be competitive to face future challenges. Therefore, we must change the strategy and if the people want change let us make it together," he said before thousands of people attending the rally.
The Sultan then said, "What is the use of asking Hamengkubuwono to be president if the people do not want change. I want to be an agent of change."
He said winning or losing in next year's election would be no problem to him.
"At the request of the people of Yogyakarta I am willing to run for president. It is not a problem for me to lose and there is no need to feel degraded or ashamed if I lose. My logic is not like that but on the contrary I may not show off if I win because everything is a mere mandate," he said.
